A little break!

I haven't updated my blog since February. I cant even apologise with much conviction, as the first half of this year has been packed so full, and am very pleased with the direction of things.

However, due to a bike accident on the first day of Bloom in Phoenix Park, work has had to take a back seat for the last six weeks (and another six to go). I am itching (literally, the full-leg cast is itchy) to get back to work, and when I do get back, I will be doing a little bit of work to streamline things - I'll update you as it happens, or when I have time most likely!

So, in the meantime, I've attached some piccies of my newest range, 'I saw something in my garden', which is available at The Irish Design Shop (Drury St /RHA, D2), and the National Gallery Bookstore (Clare St, D2).

Research for new designs

Without giving too much away on the theme of some new designs (you've guessed, right?), I'm interspersing sketching with researching, and as ever, the prolific Charley Harper throws up many many inspirational pieces.

Some new designs...

... All ready and waiting online! And even more designs coming soon (I haven't, in fact, ahem started these yet, but I will), a series of my smallies, so to speak!

Showcase 2013

Halfway through Showcase 2013, Ireland's trade show for the creative industry, and it's proving very interesting! This year I am in Creative Island, organised by the Crafts Council of Ireland and I love my spot and will miss it - one of my best sellers, 'Just You', and the newly hatched small version were in the 'Selected' area which was great news!

I spent a lot of time and a huge amount of energy in 2012 finalising my display/packaging etc, and I am very pleased in general. Feedback has been fantastic. It's nice to know you're moving in the right direction. So I hope 2013 will be an interesting and exciting year - it will certainly be a busy one! Have a look below at some snaps of my display, packaging, new designs.

Happy New Year and no rest for the...

Happy New Year to you all (I think it's the last day I can say that) sad to see the end of 2012, but 2013 is already shaping up to be an interesting one. Next up: Creative Island at Showcase, and am currently buried under mounds of sketches and paper organising and finalising my new designs. Six completed, one 'en route', and possibly an eight if I have the time. To whet your appetites, here's a look at a Lino cut before the final test print - if I do say so myself, the finished print is very unusual and beautiful in a ghostly sort of way - end of January for uploading images for all new designs!

Little Christmas give-away

This partridge print needs a good home, so to celebrate Christmas and to wrap up a fantastic 2012, I will be picking a winner from the 'hat' tomorrow, just share this page on your fb or twitter, and either comment on my fb page: https://m.facebook.com/printingfawn?id=337848546261930&_rdr
Or mention me on twitter, @printingfawn

Good luck all!

Merrion Pop-up

Extra special, one-time only, two for one blog posts! Felt I needed to add a mention of the recent pop-up in the beautiful Architectural Archive, on Merrion Square, as arranged by the equally lovely Clare and Laura of Irish Design Shop - these gals sure know how to put together a shop, and now a pop-up. It was one of the nicest faires that I've ever not done... My mum did it for me. Thanks Clare n Laura, here's to next year!

Space, the final frontier

I've finally run out of space in my studio and it's driving me nuts. Too much stuff in too small a space. I am currently playing 'twister- the studio version', as I clamber over boxes and bubble wrap and frames. Here's hoping that post-Rds fair will give me a bit of breathing space.

And, relax (not really!)

Lovely, albeit incredibly busy day today making up some printed lavender bags - pic below. The skull really works well as it's a simple image, bulky and interesting. The other bag will have an owl - not quite as dramatic as the skull, but very sweet nonetheless - just awaiting dried lavender delivery which I hope will arrive in time and we'll see how these go down at the RDS national craft & design fair, 5-9th Dec.

Rds gift guide

Delira' to say one of my prints has been included, I have been told that I will now become a millionaire on the back of this... Or at least sell a few prints. After Bloom in the Park, I invested in some cataloging of my work so it is good news indeed that they have been included here. Oh, and if you happen to be at the fair, and having a gander at the Crafts Council Special Feature area, the lovely 'Just You' will be there, cooing from its frame!

Holiday... Before it really kicks up a notch!

Off I go for a few days, with lists & logos floating around in my little head. As a pre-holiday workload, I finalised the printing of my wall signs (thanks for the help, Vici... "Help!", she says, "I bloody did them!") and some final printing runs. Pics of the lovely golden-tipped 'Foxy Dreams' and the gorgeous 'Sleep Tight', hot off the press. By the way, I'm typing this on the plane as the other passengers board - this is why apps are so great!

... Christmas is a coming

Today at Designer Mart was certainly a good pointer as to what people are looking for for Christmas. 'Just You', was an outright winner, but the Christmas(sy) prints were favourites with 'Foxy Dreams' and 'Sleep Tight' golden tints and a 'partridge in a pear tree' lovely robust feel. See piccies.

Tomorrow will be a work from home day, a spot of nice relaxed Lino cutting, woo hoo, bring it!

Lewis Glucksman Gallery

Ah, the joys of this space. What an amazing fair to do. Bright, light, spacious and relaxed, what more could you ask for! Here's some pics of the beautiful architecture and interior space - clean-lines-tastic! For anyone who doesn't know where to find it, it's in the grounds of UCC just a skip from Cork city.

How did I get on you might ask? It was so nice to have my first fair outside of Dublin here. I worked really hard on my display prior to the show, and with the new 'FAWN' logo that was essentially launched here, I'm happy to say it was all very well received... Particularly the gift boxes which got a lot of attention!

Preparations for Creative Island

So I know it's coming up to the C-time (apparently, I'm allowed to say the actual word after Halloween), however I've been busy designing new work, the new logo and new displays. I have a lovely spot for Creative Island in January, and one of the new pieces I will be showcasing are these two, 'swoosh' and 'just you' - some of you may have already seen these bit thought I'd share the excellent photos, courtesy of Trevor Harte Photography! The end!!!

New website now live!

Quick post just to let y'all know the new site is now live - a few tweaks to make (and possibly a much larger, general tweak!) but I think it's looking great. Take a look http://www.theprintingrooms.ie/index.html, or at fawn.ie and, although I've been promising for many weeks now, a discount code will be sent out to anyone on the mailing list early next week, so don't forget to get your name down!

New website... Nearly there!

It's been a fiddly, busy few months. Not quite feeling like I'm getting a huge amount done, but in reality quite a bit has moved on with the Printing Rooms. The website is in the final stages of being completed; some lovely packaging, after quite some trial and error, and lots of research, has been finalised. A few interesting projects coming up, and lots of finalising of 'things'. In between all of this, I have been trying to design a few new pieces, and will knuckle down to this in the next week or so.

So to satiate you, here's a wee pic of the new packaging, available now in the lovely Liberties in Westport. They fit my smaller printed frames, are laser cut with the flamingo pink tissue or (grr, manly) black tissue, with ribbon handle... still testing the strength of the handle and have swung it around a fair bit, but looks like it's good to go!

Don't forget to add your details to the mailing list, if you're interested in hearing about new site launch offers!

some pics of Bloom work

Nothing much to report from The Printing Rooms Studio except a lot of printing has been happening in preparation for Bloom in the Park, 31st May - 4th June. I promised on my last post that I would load completed images of new work once done, so that's all, here they are!

If I can get spare tickets for Bloom, I'll be posting updates on Facebook, so don't forget to like the page to keep updated!

Bloom preparations

Looking forward to being a part of the Crafts Council of Ireland section in Bloom this year (31st May - 4th June, although, when I tried to enter it into my diary, I realised there was no 31st May in it, bizarre!).

Working on a few new pieces just for Bloom, have a few test-prints completed - my current favourite 'Swoop' see below.. it's a really energetic print (teeny, about 6x6cm) but packs a punch and I'll be trying out something new with the framing to see if it works. I'll post some pics when the prints are printed up properly.

I may also consider introducing my lavender bags again, if I have time, and looking forward to playing around with the display given that we are currently in prime Summer (ahem). If I can get spare tickets for Bloom, I'll be posting updates on Facebook, so don't forget to like the page to keep updated!

nice parcels!

As this year is all about change, large and small, I am in the middle of doing a bit of research for my packaging, labels, bags etc... fiddling really, but coming across some beautifully packaged 'things', so this post will feature lots of interesting and beautiful packages or lables, all a little different, a bit clever, and very very simple. So, from the rustic...

...to the cute

... to the edible.

 ...but my ultimate favourite....

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studio, nicely settled

pic 1

Not quite the immediate pics I promised, but finally got there, and nicely settled into new studio. Have a look at the after shots (just click here for the before!) My favourite spot is in pic 1 - luckily I've been able to re-use all of the props that I bought for various pop-up shops and exhibitions and they've now found a (hopefully) permanent home.

Lovely new floor, thanks to the other half, and a nice comfy chair thanks to the Ma.... after hours of printing, this chair is a life-saver.

Pics 2 and 3 show my desk area and the pegs for my 'drying line' for freshly printed prints... and obviously my clunking etching press. Hopefully soon I'll be adding to my range of equipment with some silk screens and possibly an exposure unit... watch this lovely space!

pic 2

pic 3

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